Child Life, Administration & Family Collaboration (M.S.)

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) work with children in a healthcare setting
and provide support at a developmentally appropriate level.Our Child Life students help children feel comfortable in medical settings by engaging
them in medical play.Child Life students partner with the University Child Care Center annually to run
an "Animal Clinic" that helps children understand healthcare at their developmental
level.

The master’s in child life, administration and family collaboration provides advanced
education for students who wish to become Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS)
and for those already certified and working in the field.

This program’s broad curriculum engages students through applied research, focuses
on family collaboration, and prepares students for management and administrative positions.
In addition to in-class learning opportunities, fluency in technology is enhanced
through web-based coursework and through research. Field-based projects and internships
also complement traditional coursework. View degree requirements and course descriptions in the Graduate Catalog.

Students who complete this program finish with a post-baccalaureate certificate in
Family Professional Collaboration and may also earn another certificate in clinician-administrator transition.

Apply for an Assistantship

Towson’s graduate assistantship program offers a limited number of graduate assistantships
each year to qualified students. Students apply for either full-time (20 hours-per-week)
or half-time (10 hours-per-week) assistantships. To be considered, a student must
submit an assistantship application and a resume.

Child Life Scholar — Amanda Ackermann

The Child Life Scholar program at Towson University allows a selected student to work
in the Child Life department at University of Maryland Children's Hospital for 20
hours a week in exchange for $5000 towards tuition. This exclusive opportunity is
a unique and highly rewarding experience for Child Life students.

“The opportunities that are presented to me daily at the hospital further expand my
Child Life knowledge and experience, and have opened up many doors for me. I plan
and implement events and developmentally appropriate activities for children and families
to provide extra support while they are in the hospital. I also get the chance to
coordinate donations and estimate costs of purchasing items for the Child Life department,
which teaches me the communication and budgeting skills I will need in this profession.
In this position, I get the best of both worlds. I see the administrative background
work that happens in order to keep our program strong and effective, as well as the
impact that our Child Life team has when working directly with children and families.
The Child Life Scholar position is shaping me professionally as I continue my journey
to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist.”